The federal government is sending $100 million in emergency relief to repair and reopen roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, the Federal Highway Administration announced Saturday.
“Working in close coordination with North Carolina, we are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an email statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way.”
The money will “help get transportation networks back up and running safely and will be followed by additional federal resources,” Buttigieg said.
North Carolina requested the money, and federal highway officials OKed sending the amount to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Secretary said.
“It has been devastating to witness scenes of the North Carolina families, neighbors, and communities destroyed by Helene explain what it means to have access to significant aid relief slowed or even cut off,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Kristin White said in the statement.
The aid to North Carolina followed a quick release of money by the Federal Highway Administration to South Carolina earlier in the week.